The tension is palpable as the U.S. women's national ice hockey team prepares to face Sweden in a critical semifinal match at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. A victory would propel the Americans into the gold medal game, a stage they have frequently vied for against their North American rivals, Canada. The outcome of this game carries significant weight, as it determines not only the immediate medal aspirations but also the ongoing narrative of dominance in women's Olympic hockey.
Path to the Semifinals
Both the U.S. and Sweden have navigated their way through the tournament, demonstrating varying degrees of success and resilience.
Team USA's journey to the semifinals has been marked by strong performances. They secured decisive wins in the group stage against Czechia (5-1) and Finland (5-0), and convincingly defeated Switzerland (5-0) and Canada (5-0). In the quarter-finals, they shutout Italy with a 6-0 victory, signaling their offensive prowess and defensive solidity.
Team Sweden's route has been more varied. They achieved victories against Germany (4-1), Italy (6-1), France (4-0), and Japan (4-0) in the group stage. Their quarter-final match against Czechia was a close contest, which Sweden won 2-0.
Semifinal Matchups and Schedule
The semifinals are set to take place on Monday, February 16th, at the Milano Santagiulia Arena.
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The first semifinal will feature United States vs. Sweden at 16:40 CET (10:40 AM ET).
The second semifinal will pit Canada vs. Switzerland at 21:10 CET (3:10 PM ET).
The winners of these two matches will advance to the gold medal game, scheduled for Thursday, February 19th.
Historical Context and Dominance
The history of women's Olympic ice hockey has been largely defined by the strong rivalry between Canada and the United States. Each of these nations has claimed seven medals in the sport's Olympic history, with the gold medal game frequently featuring these two teams in the last four Winter Olympics. This established dynamic adds another layer of significance to the U.S. team's potential progression to the final.
Broadcast and Viewing Information
Fans can follow the action through various media rights holders. In the United States, broadcasts will be available through Peacock and the USA Network, with some preliminary round games also being televised on the USA Network.
U.S. Team's Performance Overview
Group Stage Results:
United States 5-1 Czechia
United States 5-0 Finland
Switzerland 0-5 United States
Canada 0-5 United States
Quarter-final Result:
United States 6-0 Italy
Sweden's Performance Overview
Group Stage Results:
Sweden 4-1 Germany
Sweden 6-1 Italy
France 4-0 Sweden
Japan 4-0 Sweden
Quarter-final Result:
Czechia 0-2 Sweden
Broader Olympic Schedule for Team USA on February 16th
Beyond the pivotal hockey semifinal, Team USA is involved in several other events on February 16th:
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Bobsleigh – 2-man heats 1 & 2: Starting at 10:00 CET.
Short track speed skating – Women’s 1000m quarterfinals: Kristen Santos-Griswold competing, beginning at 11:00 CET. Semifinals and finals are expected to follow.
Short track speed skating – Men’s 500m heats: Featuring Andrew Heo and Brandon Kim, starting at 11:17 CET.
Ice hockey – Women’s semifinals: United States vs. Sweden at 16:40 CET.
Bobsleigh – Women’s monobob heats 3 & 4: Kaillie Humphries, Kaysha Love, and Elana Meyers Taylor in contention, starting at 19:00 CET.
Curling – Women’s round robin: United States vs. Italy at 19:05 CET.
Figure skating – Pair skating, free skate: Featuring Chan/Howe and Kam/O’Shea, starting at 20:00 CET.
Key Players and Team Dynamics
While specific individual performances are crucial, the collective strength and strategy of the teams will be under scrutiny. In past tournaments, players like Marie-Philip Poulin for Canada have set records, highlighting the impact of seasoned athletes. For the U.S., consistent offensive output and solid goaltending have been evident throughout their path to the semifinals. The quarter-final match against Italy saw the U.S. team demonstrate strong offensive capabilities, which will be a key factor against a defensive Swedish side.
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Sources Used:
olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/ice-hockey-women-semi-final-full-schedule-how-to-watch-live (Published 15 hours ago)
olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-2026-how-to-watch-team-usa-live-full-schedule-and-medal-events-on-monday-16-february (Published 12 hours ago)
cbssports.com/olympics/news/2026-winter-olympics-schedule-where-to-watch/ (Published 4 hours ago)
olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/winter-olympics-ice-hockey-women-roundup-sweden-usa-quarter-finals (Published 2 days ago)
teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicwomen (Seen on Brave)
